Box end and method of making same



' June 24, 1930. H 1 @GFP 1,767,0@4

BOX END AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed June l, 1928 Patented June 24, 1930 Unirse .strat-ss PATENT A orifice HENRY J'. GOFF, 0F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO C. A. WED- STER AND ONE-THIRD TO I-I. V. TASIER, BOTH OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA BOX END AND METHOD OF MAKING- SAME Application filed June 1, 1928. Serial No. 282,234.

This invention relates to end members of the boxes in which fruit and the like is packed for shipment, my principal object being to provide an end member of this character made from scraps of lumber arranged and connected together in such a manner that the resultant unit will form a box end of substantial and rigid nature A further object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing and assembling the scrap lumber in such a manner that the box ends of proper size may be easily and quickly formed.

ln box factories the lumber is initially purchased from the mill in the form of boards of varying lengths and considerably thicker than is wanted for box making purposes. Before sawing the boards to the desired tliinness for the sides and bottoms of the boxes, it is customary to cut off the portions of the board which contain loose knots and other serious defects so that the box slats will be reasonably clear and free from such defects as would seriously weaken them.

This operation leaves scrap blocks of varying lengths usually from two to six inches, which rapidly accumulate and which heretofore have been considered as waste and either burnt on the premises or sold as stove wood.

By reason of my improved box end and method of making same I am enabled lto utilize the greater portion of this scrap lumber, while at the same time an additional saving of lumber is had on account of the fact that it is not necessary to utilize single piece boards of new lumber for the purpose as has heretofore been done.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is ol-esigned. i

These objects I accomplish by means of suoli structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. l is a plan view more or less dia-- grammatical of the apparatus used in connection with the manufacture of the box ends.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box end v member as constructed with the use of the apparatus and prior to its being resawed to the desired thinness. r

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a box end after having been re-sawed and mounted in connection with a box.

Fig. l is a perspective View of a modified form of box end.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral l denotes a table onv which the scrap blocks 2 are placed. A circular rip saw 3 projects through the table having a guide plate 4 spaced a predetermined distance to one side of the saw. The blocks are abutted against the plate7 with the grain parallel thereto and after passing through the saw, form strips 5 Whose width is equal to the space between the saw and guide and whose length is equal to that of the original scrap blocks. AThe spacing between the saw and guide is lpreferably proportioned so that three superimposed strips will be suiicient to give the desired height of the box end. rfhe cut strips are caught by a conveyor 6 of suitable character and are deposited by said conveyor in a stationary bin 7 having a sloping bottom. Downwardly sloping chutes 8 project laterally from the bottom of the bin on the low side thereof and discharge onto separated horizontal tables 9. Gates l() at the lower end of the chutes are preferably provided to control the feed of the strips from the bin onto the tables.

Projecting upwardly through each table intermediate its ends is a crosscut saw l1, a guide plate 12 being disposed in spaced re- 'f' lation and parallel to the saw a distance equal to the length of a standard box end. A transversely extending pusher and back plate 13 is slidably mounted in connection with the table for horizontal movement in a plane parallel to the saw and is normally disposed ahead of the saw a distance somewhat greater than the depth or height of a box end.

Fixed on the table beyond the saw is a suitable locating means 14 for a U shaped clamping frame 15 which is open toward the saw, the locating means being disposed so that one side of the frame is parallel to and alined with the guide 12. The width between the sides of the frame is substantially equal to the length of a box end and its depth from its open to its opposite end is preferably suflicient to take three box end units in abutting relationship as shown in Fig. 1. A taper drift 16 is removably mounted in connection with the open end of each clamping frame to extend across the same and be engaged with the sides thereof, so as to press said box ends and the Various pieces thereof when disposed in the frame, into rm frictional engagement with each other. Also mounted on each table 9 to one side, and preferably ahead of the saw is a suitable glue pad device 17.

In operation the assembler is stationed alongside the table 9 adjacent the glue pad; this pad, the gate 10, and the presser member 13 being disposed relative to each other so as to be all within convenient reach of the assembler without his having to shift his position. A certain number of the strips 5 are disposed on the table beyond the chute gate, which strips are of various lengths as previously stated. The assembler then places certain of such strips in end to end relation, with one end of one strip against the guide 12 and with the long edges of said strips against the presser plate 13; the length of the combined strips used being such as to reach or project beyond the longitudr nal plane of the saw 11. The assembler then selects other strips of such length relative to those used in laying the first row of strips that the ends of the strips of the second row will be in staggered relation to the ends of the strips of the first row as shown.

The edges of the strips to form thesecond row abut against those of the first row with one end of one strip abutted against the guide 12. Before thus placing the second row of strips the longitudinal edges thereof are run over the glue pad so that the cooperating edges of the strips will be glued to each other. The strips for the third row are then chosen so that the ends will be in staggered relation to the ends of the strips of the second row and said strips'are similarly edged with glue and abutted against the strips of the second row. rIhe presser plate is then. advanced past the saw causing the overhanging ends of the three rows of strips to be cut off, the adhesion of the glue being sufficient to prevent displacement of the strips from their abutting relationship during this operation. rIhe result is that a box end unit A of the proper width or height and length is thus formed. After the unit is moved past the saw, another one is assembled in the same manner, ete., until a number of units suiicient to fill the ciamping frame have been advanced into the same. The wedgeJ drift is then applied which causes the glued edges to be pressed into firm frictional engagement with each other, and the clamping frame lis then removed from the table and allowed to remain undisturbed a certain length of time until the glue is properly set. In the meantime another empty frame is placed on the table to receive the next lot of box end units as they are assembled and formed.

lVhen the end units have been firmly set they are removed from the clamping frame, and since the standard thickness of the scrap blocks used is twice as thick as that necessary for the box ends, the unit is re-sawed to form two actual box ends B which may then be assembled in making the box C in the usual manner as shown in Fig.

If desired the strips when being assembled on the table may be arranged so that their ends are maintained separated somewhat as shawn at 18 in Fig. 4. rIhe resulting box end D, while just as strong as the first described type (since the ends of lhe strips not glued 'together in either case) provides for ventilation through the box, which is a valuable feature in maintaining fruit in goed condition if it is to be precooled prior to shipment.

Frein the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

vWhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire Vto secure by Letters Patent is;

A box end consisting of a plurality of separate strips arranged in a plurality of superimposed rows, glued tegether; the ends of adjacent strips of each row being spaced from each other and being arranged in offset relation to the ends of the strips of an adjacent row.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

HENRY J. GOFF.

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